Portable pressure gas apparatus superposed on a vertical axis-container

ABSTRACT

Portable pressure gas apparatus superposed on a vertical-axis container more particularly an apparatus for cooking, lighting or heating, operating by combustion of a gas such as butane, propane or the like, comprising for its connection to the container an operating unit combining in a single metal body a gas dispensing head, a burner and, in the piping connecting the head to the burner, an element for operating and preferably regulating the delivery of gas towards the burner, and also a downwardly open bell-shaped cover fixed at its end portion to the base of the said unit to serve as a housing for the container, characterised in that the said cover 5 comprises on the bell 9 a prolongation 17 which is substantially coaxial and extends upwards, these parts forming a complete chamber with two opposite bells of which the upwardly open bell 17 contiguous by means of a common end portion 5 with the lower bell 9 constitutes a housing-surrounding the said operating unit (12, 14, 15, 20).

United States Patent Schaller 1 Sept. 23, 1975 [5 1 PORTABLE PRESSURE GAS APPARATUS 3,620,015 11/1971 Hocq 431/142 3,620,660 11/1971 Laurent 431/344 SUPERPOSED ON A VERTICAL AXIS-CONTAINER Inventor: Pierre Andre Schaller, Lyon, France Assignee: Application des Gaz, Paris, France Filed: Nov. 23, 1973 Appl. No.: 418,284

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 28, 1972 France 72.42964 [52] US. Cl. 431/142; 431/344; 126/38; 222/5 [51] Int. Cl. F23Q 2/00 [58] Field of Search 431/142, 344; 126/38; 222/5, 3, 83.5, 86, 88

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,732,697 1/1956 Peterson et al. 431/142 2,853,126 9/1958 Corlet 222/5 2,890,815 6/1959 Corlet 222/5 3,156,379 11/1964 Corlet 222/5 3,289,801 12/1966 Jerkins 126/41 R 3,426,942 2/1969 McMains et al. 222/5 Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmDowell & Dowell [5 7] ABSTRACT Portable pressure gas apparatus superposed on a vertical-axis container more particularly an apparatus for cooking, lighting or heating, operating by combustion of a gas such as butane, propane or the like, comprising for its connection to the container an operating unit combining in a single metal body a gas dispensing head, a burner and, in the piping connecting the head to the burner, an element for operating and preferably regulating the delivery of gas towards the burner, and also a downwardly open bell-shaped cover fixed at its end portion to the base of the said unit to serve as a housing for the container, characterised in that the said cover 5 comprises on the bell 9 a prolongation 17 which is substantially coaxial and extends upwards, these parts forming a complete chamber with two opposite bells of which the upwardly open bell l7 contiguous by means of a common end portion 5 with the lower bell 9 constitutes a housing-surrounding the said operating unit (12, 14, 15, 20).

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 of 2 3,907,490

PORTABLE PRESSURE GAS APPARATUS SUPERPOSED ON A VERTICAL AXIS-CONTAINER DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns portable apparatus for gas under pressure comprising an operating unit superposed on a vertical-axis container, or a plurality of such containers stacked coaxially and serving as a base for the assembly.

Of these apparatus, it concerns more particularly, but not exclusively, those used for cooking, lighting and heating, more particularly designed as auxiliary apparatus for emergency and camping use, operating by combustion of a gas such as butane or propane contained in the liquid phase in a container arranged as a detachable refill cartridge in the form of a non-returnable or one-trip package.

In this kind of apparatus the container is usually disguised in the manner of a bell-shaped cover comprising in its end portion a gas dispensing head with an annular sealing element against which the cartridge is clamped about an axial finger adapted to establish, by pressure towards the cartridge, sealing-tight communication between the said cartridge and the said operating unit.

The latter, which extends through the end of the bellshaped cover and projects freely above the said cover, can comprise a gas regulating and shutoff cock, and if appropriate an incorporated ignition device, an expansion device, a saucepan support, a burner etc.

This kind of superstructure with its various complications tends to become dirty, is difficult to clean, involves a risk of the user catching on it, and in addition is not very attractive in appearance.

An important objective of the invention concerns the configuration of a cover which particularly covers not only the gas container but also this complicated superstructure with control cock and connecting pipe systems.

For this purpose and according to the invention the said bell-shaped cover is supplemented by a substantially coaxial upward prolongation so as to form a complete enclosure with two opposite bells adjacent one another at a common end portion, one being open downwardly and receiving the gas cartridge whereas the other is open in an upward direction and is used as a housing enveloping the said superstructure.

Each of these two bells can form a more or less cylindrical compartment, or this compartment may be more or less conical or given another shape.

The bottom bell is advantageously closed by a detachable bottom portion which may be screwed or otherwise secured below the cartridge to allow it to be clamped and held clamped in sealing-tight manner against the gas dispensing head.

According to an advantageous constructional form of the invention the chamber assembly is constituted by a part made in one piece with a substantially H-shaped section "by injection moulding from plastics material, making the substantially horizontal separating wall of the two compartments comprise a central aperture through which the operating unit extends or the gas dispensing head which is integral therewith. The said unit or head is also made to comprise a flange or at least a radial lug by which it is fixed to the edge of the said aperture. j j

It is advantageous to cover the upwardly open bell with a metal plate fixed about the operating unit or burner. This plate forms a heat shield and diffusing means suitable for protecting the plastics material of the cover and also effectively protecting the control cock and piping system against any soiling infiltration from above.

The cylindrical wall of the upwardly open bell advantageously comprises a lateral aperture occupied by a dished member in the form of a concave spherically rounded cup with a diametral cross-member, used as a rotary control knob for the gas delivery regulating element which forms part of the operating unit in question.

Sheet metal gas cartridges have already been proposed which comprise at the upper end of a cylindrical wall a convex end portion and, at the lower end, a con cave end portion fitted in sealing-tight manner to the peripheral wall by a rolled rim.

The invention also proposes the use of such cartridges in a cylindrical housing which can receive two of them stacked coaxially on one another, one in use and the other as a standby and, when the cartridge in use is empty, the cartridges may be changed round in the said housing in order to make the apparatus capable of operating again.

It will be realised that when the two cartridges are coaxially superposed in the same direction, that is to say when the upper convex end portion of the lower cartridge isfitted into the lower concave end portion of the upper cartridge, the overall bulk of the said cartridges in the direction of height is less than when the two cartridges are superposed to face in opposite directions, that is to say with a concave end against a concave end.

If the housing used in the apparatus for receiving the two superposed cartridges has been designed for correct connection in the first superposed arrangement and the user by mistake puts the cartridges one above the other pointing in opposite directions, the assembly will no longer be contained in the said housing. If on the other hand the housing has been designed for superposing the cartridges so as to point in opposite directions, the correct connection can be made only in this position and not if the user by mistake superposes the two cartridges to point in the same direction.

In order to make the apparatus independent of the possibly reversed position of the refill cartridge, according to the invention the closure element of the housing comprises within a peripheral shoulder capable of serving as an abutment for the rolled rim of the reserve cartridge, a concave end portion in which the convex portion of the upper end of the reserve cartridge can be received if the said cartridge is introduced in the opposite direction to the cartridge in service, since it can no longer be accommodated in that case by fitting into the cavity in the end portion of the cartridge in service.

The accompanying drawings given by way of example will make it possible to understand the invention better, the features which it affords and the advantages which it can provide:

FIG. 1 shows in axial section a substantially cylindrical gas stove with a single burner constructed according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows, likewise in axial section and on a smaller scale, the various elements of the same stove with a cover in three parts adapted to close over one another.

HO; 3 and. F.lG.-4 show, in a stove constructed ac cordingtq a modified forrn,-two pressure gas cartridges, contained-therein one of which is a reserve cartridge and whichsare shown respectively in their two different possible positions, one reversed relatively to the other:

The stove according to the invention uses butane gas under pressure contained in a liquid phase in a light disposable= pack made of sheet metal constructed in. the form of substantially cylindrical refill cartridge 1 capable of'being'clampedl by one of its end-portions 2- 7 which then, by an additional pressure 'of the cartridgeagainst the finger 4 which is'in the form of a-sharp'-' pointed spike, is perforated in the central portion to permit 'the escape of gas into the space enclosed by the gas dispensinghead 10 on the end portion 2 by'th'e sealing element 3. v

l'twill be noted that when a valve cent'e red in the'end portion of the cartridge is provided, the samearrange ment can be used for establishing a sealing-tight con action by means of' t'he sealingelement about the valve and opening its valve member byth'e coaxial rm ge'r 4', hichin this case is arranged asa simple o'perat ing rod preferably rounded at the en'd,during the introduction of the cartridge by means of axial pressure (this case is not illustrated in the drawings).

To ensure this conneetion by'axial pressure of the contaiher against'the gas dispensing head automatically by positioning the refill 1 in the apparatus, a bellshaped cover "9 is used to'define a cylindricalicomparb' ment 6 capable ofrece iving "an guiding at least the upper portion of thecartridge 1, and on the end portion of which the sealing element 3 and finger 4 of thegas dispensing head 10 project colaxially, and there is provided on this same bell-shapedcover 9 a screwthread 7 coaxial with the compartment 6 for screwing over the lower portion of the cartridge a closure element 8 which, during screwing, makes the cartridge 1 advance axially in t he compartment 6.. v i I The peripheral wall of thecompartment 6 forms a kind ,of holding and guiding skirt screwthreaded at 7 at its periphery, the said skirt penetrating into a substantially cylindrical peripheral portion. of the closureelement 8 .which is in the form of a hollow shell screwedv about the skirt 9 on the screwthread 7.

The end portion 25 of theshell 8 be concave to match the likewise concave shape of the lower end por I tion 24 of the cartridge 1 and comprise a diametral cross-member 25 facilitating the screwing of the shell Son the body 9. The end portion 25 is perforated with ventilation holes 26. Y a i l The gas dispensing head 10 forms part of an operat- According toan important feature of the invention, thesibell-jshaped member is prolonged upwards, beyond its end portion 5 and about the said end portion by a chamber f7 which" extendsabout the operating unit 12, .14, .20 and iscovered at ,the top by a metal plate ,18 in the -form of adish which is upwardly concave and is clamped bythe edge of a central aperture between the union l2 and the burner 13.

A particularly simple construction can be obtained by providingin: the end portion 5 of the bell-shaped cover an aperture ,11 which the gas dispensing head extends through andat the edge of which the operating unit is fixed by a flange or by, radial lugs 15 by means of-screws16. 3

.It will ben'oted'in FIG. l .that. the operating unit, in the presenttcasethe union-12,and element 14, is entirely received within the chamber 17 which forms an inverted-upper belladjoining the lower bell 9 by means of the common endportion S; 7

Iti's advantageous-to provide in the cylindrical wall 17 of this upperbell a lateral aperture 19 occupied by a kind of spheric'ally rounded dishedmember 20 with a'diarne'tr'al cross-member 21 which,-thus fitted in the wall 17 to'finish flush with the said wall ati-ts edge, can rotate t h'erein and canbe used as an operating element for acting on the spindle of the'regulating element 14.

It will be appreciated mantle cover 5,9, l7'can be m ade o'f' plasticsrnateri'alcoloured throughout with any desired colour bysiinple'injection-moulding in the form of a perfectly 'srnooth-oiie-piecebody, without any cutting edges and'requiring no machinin'g after moulding.

This one-piece body has a substantially H-shaped section which can be cylindrical as illustrated or can be moreor' less flared niorepart'icularly in the upward directionfor may begiveri a relatively whimsical shape provided that it constituteslthe 'two opposite housings one for the-cartridge l andthe'othe'r for'the operating unit 12, 14, 20. g

The upperporti 'jn "17 dfthis body can be covered, when the apparatus is not in use, by lid22 which can also bemoulded from plastics material. It will be appreciated that the cover5 with the plate 18, the closure ele'ment 8 and the lid 22 form an attractive assembly which is completely closed externally.

Onan assemblyof this kind made of plastics material sensitive to heat, the plate 18 constitutes a heat shield and diffusing means, giving good protection against the heat produced by the burner 13 by radiation or convection and also by conduction through the metal parts of the operating unit 12, When thejapparatus is more particularly arranged as astove, the same plate 18 gives a welcome protection against any infiltration from above of overflowing contents of cooking receptacles situated above the burner 13.

e The cartridge is for med iiniknown manner by two stamped pieces of sheet metal, onecomprising the cying unit comprising a metal. union 12 serving as a sup- M port and connection for a burner 13 and an element 14 for regulating the delivery of gas which can flow towards the burner 13, I u

in the known apparatus, this operating unit projects withits ramifications beyond the end; portion 5,;of,-,the; bell-shaped cover 9 in an upward direction.

lindrical wall l and the concave upper end portion 2,

l whereas the other forms the concave lower end portion 24 fitted to the wall 1 by a rolled rim 27.

It maybe advantageous to arrange that the apparatus 7 can receive two superposed cartridges, a cartridge 1 to be brought immediately into use andthe other cartridgela to be kept in reserveplt will be-clear that the correct connection of the cartridge 1 which is to be used is determined by the total length of the two superin order to avoid the inverting of the reserve cartridge la from hindering correct connection of the cartridge which is to be used, according to another feature of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 there is provided in a closure shell 28 a peripheral shoulder 29 capable of serving as an abutment for the rolled rim 27a of the reserve cartridge la about a concave end portion 30 in which the upper convex end portion 2a of the reserve cartridge la can retire if it is introduced upside down relatively to the cartridge 7 which is to be used, as FIG. 4 shows, instead of being introduced as is shown in FIG. 3 where this same end portion 2a fits into the concave end portion 24 of the cartridge 1 which is in use.

It should be understood that the description given hereinbefore has been given only by way of example and that it does not in any way limit the scope of the invention, constructional details of which could be re placed by any other equivalent modifications.

I claim:

1. Portable apparatus for cooking, lighting or heating using an inflammable gas in a container storing said gas in pressurized condition, the container being operatively disposed to cooperate with a superposed operating unit including a gas take-off head adapted to be connected gas-tight with the top of said container, and including above said head a burner, and the operating unit further including beneath the burner a control means for controlling gas delivery from the head to the burner; said apparatus further comprising a surrounding casing, integrally formed to provide upper and lower bell-shaped portions disposed one above the other in back-to-back relationship about a common end wall through which said operating unit extends with the burner and the burner control means in the upper bell-shaped portion and with the gas take-off head in the lower bell-shaped portion, the operating unit being permanently fixed to said common wall, the lower downwardly open bell-shaped portion being shaped to receive the gas container; means cooperative with said lower bell-shaped portion to approach and maintain said container in gas-tight connected relation with said head, and the upper bell-shaped portion surrounding said unit and its gas delivery control means above said common wall and extending toward the level of the burner; and a metallic plate centrally mounted to extend beneath the burner and around said operating unit, and said plate extending outwardly to coverthe casing as a barrier to protect it from the heat dispensed by the burner.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the integrally formed casing is substantially cylindrical with an unit is made of metal.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the metallic plate is fixed centrally to the metallic operating unit and is out of contact with the plastic casing, the upper edge of the upper bell-shaped portion of said casing being somewhat spaced from and located below the peripheral edge of said cover plate.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, said control means below the burner including a rotatable adjusting element for controlling the delivery of pressurized gas to said burner; and said upper portion of the casing having an annular wall surrounding said control means and having a substantially circular aperture located to give access to said rotatable adjusting element to permit manipulating said control means, said element having a circular periphery including in its exposed end a non-circular member adapted to serve as a grip means for turning said element, and the periphery of said element which surrounds said grip member closely fitting the edge of said aperture and being substantially enclosed thereby.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the rotatable adjusting element comprises a dish-shaped member in the form of a concave spherical cup with a diametrically disposed cross-bar grip member.

7. Portable apparatus comprising in combination: two separate pressurized gas cartridges each having a cylindrical wall closed by two opposite end portions, the upper end portion being convex and the lower end portion being of complementary concave shape and fixed to the cylindrical wall by a rolled rim radially salient about said cylindrical wall; and a blind cylindrical casing having in its blind end an outwardly extending gas take-off head, and said casing having a releasable closure for closing its open end, the axially length of the interior of said casing and closure being sufficient to receive within them said two cartridges coaxially superposed, the first one of said cartridges being in gas connected position in which its upper convex end portion is tightly applied against said gas takeoff head and the second cartridge serving as a reserve cartridge and having one of its end portions engaged against the lower end of the upper cartridge and having its other end portion engaged against the releasable closure, the inside end surface of said closure including a peripheral shoulder on which the second cartridge can rest its rolled rim when inserted upright in the casing, and the closure surface having its shoulder surrounding a recess adapted to receive the convex end portion of the second cartridge if the latter is introduced in the casing in inverted position, the relative position of said shoulder and said recess being such as to maintain the first cartridge in a predetermined axial position within the casing regardless of whether the second cartridge is in the upright or the inverted position. 

1. Portable apparatus for cooking, lighting or heating using an inflammable gas in a container storing said gas in pressurized condition, the container being operatively disposed to cooperate with a superposed operating unit including a gas take-off head adapted to be connected gas-tight with the top of said container, and including above said head a burner, and the operating unit further including beneath the burner a control means for controlling gas delivery from the head to the burner; said apparatus further comprising a surrounding casing, integrally formed to provide upper and lower bell-shaped portions disposed one above the other in back-to-back relationship about a common end wall through which said operating unit extends with the burner and the burner control means in the upper bell-shaped portion and with the gas take-off head in the lower bell-shaped portion, the operating unit being permanently fixed to said common wall, the lower downwardly open bell-shaped portion being shaped to receive the gas container; means cooperative with said lower bell-shaped portion to approach and maintain said container in gas-tight connected relation with said head, and the upper bell-shaped portion surrounding said unit and its gas delivery control means above said common wall and extending toward the level of the burner; and a metallic plate centrally mounted to extend beneath the burner and around said operating unit, and said plate extending outwardly to cover the casing as a barrier to protect it from the heat dispensed by the burner.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the integrally formed casing is substantially cylindrical with an intermediate radial partition, having as viewed in axial cross-section a substantially H-shaped form.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the casing is made of heat sensitive plastic material and said unit is made of metal.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the metallic plate is fixed centrally to the metallic operating unit and is out of contact with the plastic casing, the upper edge of the upper bell-shaped portion of said casing being somewhat spaced from and located below the peripheral edge of said cover plate.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, said control means below the burner including a rotatable adjusting element for controlling the delivery of pressurized gas to said burner; and said upper portion of the casing having an annular wall surrounding said control means and having a substantially circular aperture located to give access to said rotatable adjusting element to permit manipulating said control means, said element having a circular periphery including in its exposed end a non-circular member adapted to serve as a grip means for turning said element, and the periphery of said element which surrounds said grip member closely fitting the edge of said aperture and being substantially enclosed thereby.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the rotatable adjusting element comprises a dish-shaped member in the form of a concave spherical cup with a diametrically disposed cross-bar grip member.
 7. Portable apparatus comprising in combination: two separate pressurized gas cartridges each having a cylindrical wall closed by two opposite end portions, the upper end portion being convex and the lower end portion being of complementary concave shape and fixed to the cylindrical wall by a rolled rim radially salient about said cylindrical wall; and a blind cylindrical casing having in its blind end an outwardly extending gas take-off head, and said casing having a releasable closure for closing its open end, the axially length of the interior of said casing and closure being sufficient to receive within them said two cartridges coaxially superposed, the first one of said cartridges being in gas connected position in which its upper convex end portion is tightly applied against said gas take-off head and the second cartridge servinG as a reserve cartridge and having one of its end portions engaged against the lower end of the upper cartridge and having its other end portion engaged against the releasable closure, the inside end surface of said closure including a peripheral shoulder on which the second cartridge can rest its rolled rim when inserted upright in the casing, and the closure surface having its shoulder surrounding a recess adapted to receive the convex end portion of the second cartridge if the latter is introduced in the casing in inverted position, the relative position of said shoulder and said recess being such as to maintain the first cartridge in a predetermined axial position within the casing regardless of whether the second cartridge is in the upright or the inverted position. 